Tension as Honduras awaits result

Manuel Zelaya celebrated after the early victory declaration

With half of the votes from Sunday's presidential election in Honduras now counted, it is still unclear who will emerge as the winner.

Opposition Liberal Party leader Manuel Zelaya, with 49% of the vote, is leading Porfiro Lobo of the governing National Party, who has 46% support.

Authorities say they still do not know when the final result can be announced.

Tension grew when an electoral official declared Mr Zelaya the victor before all the votes had been counted.

"We have a president-elect," said Aristides Mejia, the head of the country's electoral tribunal, on Monday.

The early victory declaration brought both celebrations and angry protests, and relations between the two main parties grew tense.

Porfiro Lobo, from the ruling party, has refused to admit defeat

Mr Lobo attacked the announcement by Mr Mejia.

In a BBC interview, he said the official had acted prematurely and that he would not admit defeat until every vote had been counted.

Outgoing President Ricardo Maduro has urged both candidates to show restraint.

Observers from the Organisation of American States are set to remain in Honduras until an official result is declared.

Violence

Sunday's vote was the seventh presidential election since 1981, when civilian rule was restored.

Both right-wing leading candidates, who were neck-and-neck going into the polls, vowed to cut crime in Honduras, which is wracked by gang violence, 30% unemployment and poverty.

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Mr Lobo, 57, is a former communist who has pledged to introduce the death penalty for crimes such as sexual assault, kidnapping and murder.

Mr Zelaya, 53, is a civil engineer and rancher who has previously served as investment minister, and wants to maintain life sentences for the worst offences while doubling police on the streets.

The three other candidates who contested the election were not expected to draw widespread support.

An estimated four million registered Honduran voters have also elected 298 mayors and 128 deputies to the single-chamber Congress.